Isaiah 66:2

People who are truly humble in front of God are right to be afraid of his great power. They have seen something of God’s punishment against a nation that refuses to obey him. They are afraid that God may have to act again.

• But God will never disappoint people that firmly trust him. He will act on their behalf when they need his help.

Wrong *worship

v3 ‘But many of you are carrying out wrong acts of *worship in my *Temple on *Mount *Zion. Those acts of *worship are very much like your acts that *break my laws. You kill an animal to *sacrifice in my *Temple. But your motive (intention) is not sincere. Your action is as bad as if you murdered someone. You *sacrifice sheep in my *Temple. But to me that is the same as if you cruelly broke a dog’s neck. You offer me gifts of grain. But to me that is as if you threw pig’s blood onto my *altar. You burn *incense in my *Temple. But to me that is the same as if you burned *incense to *idols. The fact is that you choose to go your own way. In other words, you behave in whatever manner pleases you. And you *worship your own gods. Your acts of religion in my *Temple may give you pleasure. But they disgust me. I consider them a mere performance that is without any value. Those acts of religion are just for show.

v4 Therefore I too will choose. I will choose to punish you severely for your evil deeds. I will bring about the things that cause you great fear. When I called to you, you did not reply. When I spoke to you, you did not listen. You continued to do what I had declared to be wicked. You chose to do the things that disgusted me.’